Magnetic field audio loop for swimming pools

ABSTRACT

A system for providing magnetic field audio signals to a receiver in an aquatic environment. The system includes an audio source configured to provide an electronic audio signal, and an induction loop amplifier configured to receive the electronic audio signal and convert the received electronic audio signal into a current. The system further includes a wire loop connected with the induction loop amplifier, the wire loop bounding at least part of the aquatic environment and around the receiver in the aquatic environment, the wire loop producing a magnetic field from the current to generate an audio frequency induction loop to transmit the electronic audio signal to the receiver in the aquatic environment.

BACKGROUND

An aquatic environment, such as a body of water like a swimming pool,pond, the ocean, or the like, is a very difficult environment in whichto transmit or propagate wireless signals such as digital audio signals.The water in such bodies of water tends to absorb radio signals such asBluetooth, WiFi, or other wireless radio transmissions, from an audiosource such that those signals will not reach a receiver in the water.The receiver can be wireless ear buds or headphones worn by a swimmer,for example.

Accordingly, what is needed is a system for improving audio signaltransmission from an audio source and reception by an audio receiver inan aquatic environment.

SUMMARY

This document describes a magnetic field audio loop for swimming pools,for providing wireless audio signals to a swimmer wearing an audioreceiver configured to receive audio signals over a wireless channel.

In some aspects, a system for providing magnetic field audio signals toa receiver in an aquatic environment is disclosed. The system includesan audio source configured to provide an electronic audio signal, and aninduction loop amplifier configured to receive the electronic audiosignal and convert the received electronic audio signal into a current.The system further includes a wire loop connected with the inductionloop amplifier, the wire loop bounding at least part of the aquaticenvironment and around the receiver in the aquatic environment, the wireloop producing a magnetic field from the current to generate an audiofrequency induction loop to transmit the electronic audio signal to thereceiver in the aquatic environment.

In some aspects, the aquatic environment is a swimming pool, and thewire loop includes a wire provided in one or more lane lines that areconnected between opposite ends of the swimming pool. In certainaspects, the wire loop includes the wire provided in the one or morelane lines, and a connector wire connected with the one or more lanelines to form the wire loop.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features and advantages willbe apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with referenceto the following drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a magnetic field audio loop system consistent withimplementations of the subject matter described herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates an aquatic environment in the form of a swimming poolwith a number of swim lanes spaced apart and divided by lane lines,which can form part of a magnetic field audio loop system; and

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional coil antenna that can be internal to areceiver and/or headphones for receipt of audio signals transmitted viaa magnetic field wire loop transmitter.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This document describes a magnetic field audio loop, for providingwireless audio signals to a swimmer wearing an audio receiver in aswimming pool. The audio receiver is configured to receive audio signalsover a wireless channel between an audio source and the audio receiver.

FIG. 1 illustrates a magnetic field audio loop system 100 for an aquaticenvironment, consistent with implementations of the subject matterdescribed herein. The magnetic field audio loop system 100 includes anaudio source 102 that is configured to provide audio signals over atleast one wireless transmission channel to an audio receiver 104 worn byor connected with a swimmer in an aquatic environment 105 such as aswimming pool, pond, lake, the ocean, or the like. The audio receiver104 can include an audio amplifier and headphones, such as waterproofear buds for example.

The audio source 102 can include a microphone 106, an audio player 108such as a smartphone, digital audio player, computer, or the like, orany other audio player device. An output of the audio source 102 is sentto an induction loop amplifier 110 or other amplification andtransmission device, which in turn amplifies the output of the audiosource 102, in the form of a digital audio signal, for transmission ontoa wire loop 112 to create a magnetic field for transmission of the audiosignal to the audio receiver 104 within the wire loop 112.

The wire loop 112 can circumscribe or bound the aquatic environment, ora portion thereof, and can be placed at or proximate to a water surfaceof the aquatic environment. For instance, the induction loop amplifier110 can have multiple outputs to a corresponding number of wire loops112, each configured to circumscribe or bound a separate region of theaquatic environment 105. When connected to the audio source 102 andinduction loop amplifier 110, the wire loop 112 can transmit magneticradiation that is modulated with audio signal, for receipt and playingby the audio receiver 104.

The induction loop amplifier 110 receives the audio signal (wired orwireless), converts the audio signal to a digital signal if necessary,and modulates it into a current for placement on or transmission throughthe wire loop 105. The current on the wire loop 105 creates a magneticfield that is then modulated with the audio, to produce an audiofrequency induction loop.

The audio source 102 can be a coach or a spectator speaking on themicrophone 106, the cellphone 108 playing music or other audio, etc. Theaudio source 102 can be connected to the induction loop amplifier 110wirelessly (i.e. via Bluetooth) or via one or more wired connections.

The wire loop 112 is looped around some or all of the aquaticenvironment 105. For instance, the wire loop 112 can be looped aroundthe aquatic environment 105 externally, i.e. external to the waterwithin the aquatic environment 105, such as outside a perimeter of theaquatic environment 105 or suspended above the surface of the water inthe aquatic environment 105. Alternatively, the wire loop 112 can beplaced at least partially within the aquatic environment 105, such asanchored to sides of a swimming pool for example, or at least partiallyembedded in lane lines that separate designated lanes in a swimming poolthat forms the aquatic environment 105.

As described above, and as illustrated in FIG. 2 , implementations ofthe current subject matter can include the use of lane lines, which aremade of metal wires with plastic lane markers to designate and separateswimming lanes of a swimming pool. Such use of lane lines can provide alane specific audio loop for swimmers in a swimming pool or otherdefined aquatic environment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an aquatic environment 200 having a swimming pool 202with a number of swim lanes 204, which can be spaced apart and dividedby lane lines 206. The aquatic environment 200 can also be any of alake, pond, ocean, or any other body of water. One or more of the lanelines 206 can form part of a magnetic field audio loop system that isdescribed above. Each of the lane lines 206 is formed of a large numberof independent wave-dampening plastic rings 208 and/or air-filled rings,which are threaded by a cable 210 that connects to opposite ends of thepool 202. The cable 210 is typically made of steel, and thereforeconductive, wires, one or more of which can be used as a part of a wireloop for the magnetic field audio loop system.

In some implementations, the cable 210 of each lane line 206 can beformed of, or can include, a wire that can form part of a wire loop formagnetic field audio transmission within the loop. Each wire loop canform a separate audio transmission and reception zone, for transmissionof audio signals within an area circumscribed by each wire loop.

The magnetic field audio loop system can be applied to any aquaticenvironment such as a pool, or to one or more parts of the aquaticenvironment. For instance, in the pool 202 implementation as shown inFIG. 2 , a first audio transmission and reception zone 220 can be formedby a wire loop around the entire pool 202. Alternatively, orcoincidentally, a second, and separate, audio transmission and receptionzone 222 can be formed around an individual lane 204 of the pool 202, byhaving part of the wire loop integrated within a lane line 226 thatseparates an adjacently-located swimming pool lane 204. An audiotransmission and reception zone 224 can also be formed to cover multiplelanes 204 of the pool 202, and created by a wire loop that is formed bytwo lane lines 206 with a connector wire connected therebetween at bothends of the pool 202.

While lane lines 206 can be used to carry part of the wire loop of themagnetic field audio loop system, lane lines 206 are not necessary,especially if the wire loop is configured to circumscribe the entirepool 202. However, the use of lane lines 206 to carry portions of thewire loop allow for segmenting a pool 202 or other aquatic environmentinto multiple, independent audio transmission and reception zones, andwhere the wire loop for each zone can be coupled to its own inductionloop amplifier and audio source.

Each audio transmission and reception zone forms a source audio loop(SAL). Swimmers or other occupants within each SAL can use a waterproofheadset with a coil antenna, as shown in FIG. 3 , that is magneticallycoupled to the SAL and picks up the magnetic signals. The swimmerheadset then converts or demodulates the signal to audio and plays itthrough the headphones.

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional coil antenna that can be internal to areceiver and/or headphones for receipt of audio signals transmitted viaa magnetic field wire loop transmitter. The three-dimensional antennadesign allows the headphones to select or combine the reception from theantenna that is best coupled with the SAL. Magnetic inductance orcoupling happens best when the antennas are on the same plane (parallel)as the wire loop of the induction transmission system. As the swimmer ismoving and rotating his or her head, at least one antenna is alwaysparallel to the SAL (water surface) resulting in an uninterruptedcoupling and reception of audio by the swimmer.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, othermodifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope ofthe following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for providing magnetic field audiosignals to a receiver in an aquatic environment, the system comprising:an audio source configured to provide an electronic audio signal; aninduction loop amplifier configured to receive the electronic audiosignal and convert the received electronic audio signal into a current;and a wire loop connected with the induction loop amplifier, the wireloop bounding at least part of the aquatic environment and around thereceiver in the aquatic environment, the wire loop producing a magneticfield from the current to generate an audio frequency induction loop totransmit the electronic audio signal to the receiver in the aquaticenvironment.
 2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein theaquatic environment is a swimming pool, and wherein the wire loopincludes a wire provided in one or more lane lines that are connectedbetween opposite ends of the swimming pool.
 3. The system in accordancewith claim 2, wherein the wire loop includes the wire provided in twolane lines and a connector wire between the two lane lines.
 4. Thesystem in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audio source includes amicrophone.
 5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audiosource includes a smartphone.
 6. The system in accordance with claim 1,wherein the receiver is configured to be worn by a person within theaquatic environment.
 7. A system for providing magnetic field audiosignals to a zone within an aquatic environment, the system comprising:a receiver configured for being worn by a user in the zone of theaquatic environment; an audio source configured to provide an electronicaudio signal; an induction loop amplifier configured to receive theelectronic audio signal and convert the received electronic audio signalinto a current; and a wire loop connected with the induction loopamplifier, the wire loop bounding the zone of the aquatic environmentand around the receiver in the zone of aquatic environment, the wireloop producing a magnetic field from the current to generate an audiofrequency induction loop to transmit the electronic audio signal to thereceiver in the aquatic environment.
 8. The system in accordance withclaim 7, wherein the aquatic environment is a swimming pool, and whereinthe wire loop includes a wire provided in one or more lane lines thatare connected between opposite ends of the swimming pool.
 9. The systemin accordance with claim 8, wherein the wire loop includes the wireprovided in two lane lines and a connector wire between the two lanelines.
 10. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the audiosource includes a microphone.
 11. The system in accordance with claim 7,wherein the audio source includes a smartphone.
 12. The system inaccordance with claim 7, wherein the receiver is configured to be wornby a person within the aquatic environment.
 13. The system in accordancewith claim 7, wherein the receiver includes waterproof headphones. 14.The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the waterproofheadphones include an audio receiver and amplifier to amplify theelectronic audio signal received from the wire loop.
 15. A system forproviding magnetic field audio signals to a zone within an aquaticenvironment, the system comprising: a receiver configured for being wornby a user in the zone of the aquatic environment; an audio sourceconfigured to provide an electronic audio signal; an induction loopamplifier configured to receive the electronic audio signal and convertthe received electronic audio signal into a current; and a wire loopconnected with the induction loop amplifier, the wire loop comprising awire in one or more lane lines that defines the zone within the aquaticenvironment, the wire loop bounding the zone of the aquatic environmentand around the receiver in the zone of aquatic environment, the wireloop producing a magnetic field from the current to generate an audiofrequency induction loop to transmit the electronic audio signal to thereceiver in the aquatic environment.
 16. The system in accordance withclaim 15, wherein the wire loop includes the wire provided in the one ormore lane lines, and a connector wire connected with the one or morelane lines to form the wire loop.
 17. The system in accordance withclaim 15, wherein the audio source includes a microphone.
 18. The systemin accordance with claim 15, wherein the audio source includes asmartphone.
 19. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein thereceiver includes waterproof headphones.
 20. The system in accordancewith claim 19, wherein the waterproof headphones include an audioreceiver and amplifier to amplify the electronic audio signal receivedfrom the wire loop.